The Cross River State Government has approved the release of a total sum of ₦18 billion as an investment in Sustainable Tourism Transformation initiatives that will guarantee the full-scale infrastructural upgrade of facilities at the Obudu Mountain Resort, Kwa Falls, Marina Resort, and the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.

The approval was given during the 7th meeting of the Cross River State Executive Council for 2025, presided over by Governor Bassey Otu, on Thursday, at the newly refurbished State Executive Council Chambers in the Governor’s Office Complex, Calabar.

The approval also covered the rehabilitation of Amber Tinapa Hotel, Studio Tinapa, the construction of Pier Harbour, the launch of Experience Calabar Tours, the creation of a Heritage Market for Arts and Crafts, among other initiatives.

The state executive council also approved ₦125 million to facilitate the purchase of a permanent office accommodation for the National Population Commission in the state, paving the way for the realisation of the Calabar Sports Hotel and Resort at the commission’s present location.

As a way of boosting coffee Production in the state, the council also approved the release of a sum of ₦700 million as a subsidy for Arabica and Rubusta Coffee Seedlings, for distribution to smallholder farmers across the state.

The state executive council further approved forwarding to the Cross River State House of Assembly for Legislation a request for a one per cent monthly deduction from the Statutory Allocation in favour of the Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency of the State, to facilitate the implementation of people-centric plans by Governor Bassey Edet Otu.

Also approved was the enforcement of the terms of settlement reached between the Cross River State Government and the 29 Magistrates employed in February 2019 by the previous administration, but who had not been paid, resulting in accumulated salaries. These terms of settlement of the Court Judgement guarantee fifty per cent of the total sum involved in the judgement in favour of the state government.

The government also empowered the state Ministry of Education to embark on a statewide operation to shut down illegal and unaccredited schools across the state, as a way of upholding standards and checking the alarming rate of proliferation of illegal schools, aimed at sanitising the state educational system in line with Quality Assurance guidelines.

The state government’s request for strategic investment in Azari Towers to ensure the December 2025 Completion date, to boost the State’s Tourism and Hospitality Transformation initiatives, has also received the state government’s approval.

In furtherance of his leadership commitment to the ‘People First’ Mantra, the governor reminded members of his plans to hold three Special Town Hall meetings in the three senatorial districts of the state to feel the pulse of the people as regards the administration’s policy milestones already achieved while also identifying their areas of need that will guide his decisions on choice of projects for each community spread across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Governor Otu restated the determination of his People First administration to rebuild and restore for optimal utilisation all the tourism sites located across the state in line with global best practices, adding that a Technical Committee headed by Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, with a few other prominent members, has been set up to revive the NorthFest Cultural Festival and bring it up to standard in the state’s tourism calendar.

He further asserted that the “Traces of Time” 2025 Christmas Festival would be the last to be funded by the state, noting that the current revitalisation efforts would continue to attract huge sponsorship deals that would bridge this funding gap, thus reducing the burden on the State.

The governor also expressed his resolve to redouble his efforts aimed at recovering all the state’s lost assets, stating that an Asset Recovery Committee is being constituted for the 18 local government areas to achieve greater results.

He lauded members of the state executive council for their patience and resilience, urging them to remain focused and committed to the total rebuilding and recalibration of Cross River State.